Red Fronted Serin

[DanteD716]

Beautiful birds!!!! Keep them all! Lol

[debbie276]

Very pretty

[lyzzyjayne]

jonvill I would LOVE your recipe!!

[jonvill]

Sure! Here it is:
I boil one cup water, remove from heat and stir in two grated carrots, 1/2 cup cous cous and two tablespoons of organic paprika. Let rest for 30 minutes then divide into smaller portions. (Two tablespoons works for me.
I use 5" sheets of foil wrap cut in half. I seal them and freeze them until needed)
Feed 1/2 teaspoon per bird daily during moulting or when raising nestlings.
Paprika supplies B-cryptoxanthin which is the carotenoid used by linnets to color the red breast.
If you have yellow birds omit the paprika.

[lyzzyjayne]

Thank You!

[lyzzyjayne]

lou what kind of nest does a Serin take?

[lou]

All the finches that you brought in use open nests ( canary ). put up some camo for privacy around the nest, not very much though or they'll hide out in there. My himalayan's just have 2 pates ready to fledge, keeping fingers x'd that they'll make it to the sticks.
lou

[Sally]

Sure! Here it is:
I boil one cup water, remove from heat and stir in two grated carrots, 1/2 cup cous cous and two tablespoons of organic paprika. Let rest for 30 minutes then divide into smaller portions. (Two tablespoons works for me.
I use 5" sheets of foil wrap cut in half. I seal them and freeze them until needed)
Feed 1/2 teaspoon per bird daily during moulting or when raising nestlings.
Paprika supplies B-cryptoxanthin which is the carotenoid used by linnets to color the red breast.
If you have yellow birds omit the paprika.

I wonder if this type of color feeding would work to improve the color of birds like Red-billed Fire finches or Strawberries? If so, would this color feeding have to be continued forever?

[lyzzyjayne]

Wonderful lou! Thanx so much!

[lyzzyjayne]

I'm sure it would Sally. Would prolly give when first feathering out and when molting like you do with the Canaries?

[jonvill]

Color feeding is only necessary during the moult for birds that tend to lose their red coloring in captivity.
I'm not sure what carotenoids Strawberry Finches and Red Fire Finches use to color up their plumage but I would suspect luetin because it's readily available from seed diets but I think it would help and surely couldn't hurt to add additional carotenoids while moulting.

[lyzzyjayne]

Thank You jonvill!

[lyzzyjayne]

lou!! My Serin has started feeding his hen!

[cindy]

Let the courtship begin!!! Good luck!!!!!!

[jonvill]

Hi Lizzyjane,
How are your RF serins doing?